Criminal pardons are inexcusable

May 13, 2010

We have only one complaint with Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ proposed legislation to replace criminal pardons with “record suspensions” and make them harder to get. That is, the Conservatives should have done this a long time ago.

Other than that, it’s the right move.

Let all the usual, soft-on-crime suspects on the opposition benches, in the criminal lawyers’ lobby, the prisoners’ rights’ groups and among our liberal chattering classes bitch all they want.

Then let them explain to crime victims and their families, and to the public, why the National Parole Board has been handing out hundreds of thousands of pardons like candy to the likes of Graham James, Canada’s most infamous sexual molester/hockey coach.

Why, until the law is amended, the parole board has little choice but to grant an immediate pardon even to killer Karla Homolka, if she seeks one.
Since the parole board says a pardon doesn’t excuse a criminal act, merely stipulates the record of conviction will be kept separate, apart and confidential from other criminal records, the term “record suspension” is clearly more appropriate than “pardon.”

Increasing the time a criminal must be of good behaviour to apply to five years from the current three for less serious offences, and to 10 years from the current five for more serious, indictable offences, is just common sense.

Ditto banning record suspension for anyone convicted of more than three serious offences, or of sex crimes against children, except in very narrowly defined circumstances, where, for example, the victim and accused were close in age and there was no violence, intimidation or threats.

Finally, we support putting the responsibility on applicants to show how record suspension will contribute to their rehabilitation as another overdue reform.
Record suspension does have a place in our criminal justice system.

For example, in sparing those who committed a youthful indiscretion, or a one-time offence, from having a criminal record follow them for the rest of their lives, robbing them of job opportunities and the chance for a fresh start.

But for career criminals, for violent offenders and for sexual abusers, especially of children, it’s time to end our inexcusable pardon system. Right now.

Source:  Toronto Sun May 13, 2010